14 September 2007

This is awful... a worker has fallen off the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and died. The victim fell off the Staten Island-bound lower-level just before 1:40 this afternoon. He landed near the entrance to the Fort Hamilton Army Base. Emergency workers converged but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The worker, whose name has not yet been released, was employed by El Sol Construction based out of Maspeth.

A section of cement was also knocked over on the side of the the bridge, which appeared to be a construction area and currently there is still concrete hanging over the sides of the bridge, forcing officials to close westbound lanes.

Our wonderful Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is currently undergoing a 21-month construction project requiring the around-the-clock closure of one lower-level lane in each direction. The $18 million reconstruction project includes the removal and replacement of deteriorating steel girders and concrete, new lighting, relocation of communications and power lines, and reinforcement of the structure to meet city requirements in the event of an earthquake.